The Business Review Weekly (BRW) magazine has released its top 50 sports earners for 2012, with former No. 1 draft pick Bogut maintaining his position from 2011, despite sustaining a serious ankle injury that prevented him from playing regularly with his new team, the Golden State Warriors.

Of the top 10 names on the list, 30-year-old soccer player Luke Wilkshire, who earned $5 million primarily for playing with Russian club Dynamo Moscow, and US Major League relief pitcher Grant Balfour, who made $4 million in his role with the Oakland Athletics team, were the surprise inclusions.

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There were 10 golfers on the list – the most of any sport – including Scott, Jason Day, Aaron Baddeley, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Marc Leishman, Greg Chalmers, Mark Fraser, Brendan Jones, and Peter Senior – and that despite the fact Leishman was the only Australian to win an event on the PGA Tour this year.

Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett was the highest-earning AFL player in 2012 when sponsorship deals were factored in, adding up to a $2 million pay day – worth position No. 25 on the list.

However it was Tom Scully, who signed a massive deal to leave Melbourne for expansion club Greater Western Sydney, who earned the biggest salary this season, pulling in $1.8 million (No. 34)

Code-hopper Israel Folau (No. 36), who recently decided to leave Australian football, earned $1.5 million in his agreement with GWS this year, while Carlton superstar Chris Judd was the other footballer to make the top 50, coming in at No. 45 with $1.2 million.

The lowest-profile sportsperson on the list is Olympic show jumper Edwina Tops-Alexander, who earned $1.5 million in 2012 (No. 38), due not only to her equestrian exploits but also her lucrative endorsement deals with Gucci and Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre.

She was one of only two women on the list, with tennis star Samantha Stosur ($2.5 million) entering the list at No. 20.

There were nine cricketers on the list – many earning big pay packets from Twenty20 deals – yet only one rugby union player at No. 46, George Smith ($1.2 million), who plays professionally in Japan and France.

19 comments so far

What about Motocross champ Chad Reed??? I thought he was up there??

Commenter

alron17

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 4:54PM

Too hard to click through and read the list I guess?

18. Chad Reed (Motor sports): $3 million

Commenter

jed

Location

cbd

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 11:06PM

If you didn't notice, Chad Reed decided to start his own Race Team last year while still competing, mainly because he already has more money than he knows what to do with and didn't wanna live by someone else's rules. He actually started the year losing money, and then got injured, so I don't even know how he made any money!Seriously, who needs more than $1.5M per year anyway?

Commenter

mxer

Date and time

December 14, 2012, 8:49AM

how much tax do they pay?

Commenter

LPLP

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 6:17PM

How much tax do YOU pay??

Commenter

Redsox

Location

Brighton

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 7:22PM

Nice one Red Sox

Commenter

Lash Hero

Location

Gap yah

Date and time

December 14, 2012, 9:38AM

30%

Commenter

LPLP

Date and time

December 14, 2012, 10:09AM

Tim Cahill still earns a surprising amount considering he plays in America now.

Also Patty Mills doesn't make the list, yet two Euro players do. Better for the national team we have players who are at a high level but I wish we could get a few pushing starting spots in the NBA.

Commenter

Cam

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 6:30PM

All you Judd haters can you read now start asking questions about Abbletts payments.The most expensive payment to a sheep dog ever made.Are you going to investigate that Andrew of course not.

Commenter

only judd

Location

brisbane

Date and time

December 13, 2012, 7:24PM

You are not well informed.

The startup clubs were allowed to pay more than the established clubs.